Darín stated that a dozen empanadas cost $48,000. Official figures show a very different reality
In April 2025, for example, the dozen increased by 3.75%, while the general level rose by 2.3%. If one looks at the year-over-year variation, empanadas rose 80% compared to the general index's 52%. These data confirm that, although the price is rising, it still remains below the figure Darín stated, except in very specific and premium cases.
Amid a major economic reconfiguration driven by the government of Javier Milei, renowned actor Ricardo Darín sparked a national controversy by claiming that a dozen empanadas cost 48,000 pesos. However, official figures show a very different reality. The discussion revealed not only the impact of inherited inflation but also the gap between media perception and concrete data.
The Argentine economy is undergoing a process of structural transformation under the government of Javier Milei. In this context, the price of an everyday product like a dozen empanadas unexpectedly became the center of a public debate, after actor Ricardo Darín stated, during his appearance on Mirtha Legrand's show, that this food can cost up to 48,000 pesos.
The statement did not go unnoticed. The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, replied with figures in hand to refute the actor and highlight the disconnect of certain sectors from the objective economic reality. "Public opinion can't be built on inflated anecdotes or misinformation," the official remarked in a television interview, clearly alluding to Darín's comments.
The price of a dozen empanadas is not only a consumption data point but also a relevant component of the Buenos Aires City Consumer Price Index (IPCBA). According to this indicator, in April 2025, the average price of a dozen cooked empanadas to go was 22,010.64 pesos. That is, less than half of what the actor mentioned on national television.
Nevertheless, the price of empanadas has increased. Since 2023, the price of a dozen has risen, showing that the food service sector has experienced higher specific increases, especially due to its high dependence on non-tradable inputs and the lagged effects of devaluation.
In fact, in a survey conducted on delivery apps, extreme cases were found. On Rappi, for example, the cheapest dozen is offered at 12,000 pesos (at Brozziano), while the most expensive reaches 47,900 pesos (at Mi Gusto), with a general average of 26,067.50 pesos. In these cases, the amount mentioned by the actor could be reached if shipping costs and gourmet options are included.
Chef Tupac Guantay, host of the show Maestros de la Empanada on El Gourmet channel, explained that the price of a good quality empanada ranges between 2,500 and 3,000 pesos per unit, depending on the location and type of establishment. "In Buenos Aires it's more expensive than in Salta, but it remains an accessible product within local cuisine," he clarified.
This debate, which began with a simple television statement, ended up exposing something deeper: the difference between perception and reality. Meanwhile, the national government is moving forward with measures to control spending, eliminate privileges, and clean up the economy, while some entertainment figures still seem tied to alarmist or exaggerated narratives.
Ultimately, although eating empanadas in Buenos Aires may be more expensive than in other regions, the average cost is far from the 48,000 pesos mentioned by Ricardo Darín. Minister Caputo, with official data, made things clear: price adjustments continue, but misinformation can't set the economic agenda.
